Percussion drum



Dec. 23, 1947. c. P. CORDES 3,200

PERCUSSION DRUM Filed May 3, 1944 4 Sheets$heet l v 42 .56. I I 44 J5 h l T A l 1 4f 30 45 Inventor WW lim 3.2 27 28 Z 1 CHARLES P. 622/2055,

Dec. 23, 1947 c. P. CORDES PERCUSSION DRUM Filed May 5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHI/4181.56 '1. (70/2056,

Dec. 23, 1947. c. P. CORDES 2,439 200 PERCUSS ION DRUM Filed May 3, 1944 4 Shets-Sheet 5 Inventor Can/ems .F. can,

Dec. 23, 1947. c, CORDES 2,433,209

PERCUSSION DRUM Filed May 3, 1944 4 Shets-Sheet 4 j w 46 I Inventor By a? n M,

Patented Dec. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERCUSSION DRUM Charles P. Cordes, Elizabeth, N. J.

Application May 3, 1944, Serial No. 533,878

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to percussion drums, and an important object of the present invention is to provide a novel drum head construction for drums of this kind, in which simple and efficient means is provided for tensloning the skin of the drum head by application of power at a single point.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a drum head construction of the above kind which is comparatively simple, compact, and otherwise well adapted to meet with the requirements for a successful commercial use.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide, in a snare drum, a snare carrier, and means to mount the snare carrier upon the head of the drum so that said snare carrier is yieldingly urged toward and into operative relation with the skin of the drum head, whereby, when choking is about to occur, the snare carrier will yield from the skin of the drum head and permit a smooth flow of opposing vibrations llaletvgeen the snares and the skin of the drum ea Another object of the present invention i to provide in a snare drum characterized as set forth above, a snare carrier embodying simple and efil cient means for tensioning the snares,

Still another object of the present invention is to provide, in a snare drum characterized as set forth above, simple and eificient manually operable means for moving the snare carrier toward or away from the skin of the drum head so as to render the snares operative or inoperative at will,

'With the above general objects in view, and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, such invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed. l A

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views: V

Figure l is a plan view of a snare drum embody-- ing the present invention. 7

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof, partly broken away. I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation looking toward the right of Figure 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially upon the plane of line 4.4 .of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 55 of Fi ure 1 I Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4. V

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line l! of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 taken on line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary perspective views of details of the invention.

Figure 11 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of the preferred form of detachable handle for rotating the pinion which actuates the tensioning ring of the drum head construction.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a snare drum including a shell 5 having similar head constructions at opposite ends thereof, so that a description of one head construction will suffice for both. As shown, each end of the shell 5 is inwardly offset, as at 6, or externally reduced in diameter to provide the reduced end portion '1 and an external annular shoulder 8 at the inner end of the reduced end portion 1. snugly fitted on the reduced end portion 1 is an externally threaded ring 9 that is seated flatly on the shoulder 8 and secured'to the shell 5 by means of screws l0 passing through the ring 9 and threaded into said shell 5. An internally threaded retaining hoop H is screwed at its inner portion upon the threaded ring 9 so as to be adjustable longitudinally of the shell 5, and this retaining hoop has an annular inwardly projecting flange l2 at its outer end. The inner portion I2 of flange I2 is preferably inclined inwardly, as shown clearly in'Figure 5. A tensioning ring I3 is threaded in the outer portion of the retaining hoop I l and has its Outer portion provided with external gear teeth i4 so that it also constitutes a ring gear. The inner portion I3" of the outer face of tensioning ring I3 is also preferably inclined inwardly thesame as the inner portion of flange l2 of the hoop ll. At a suitable point circumferentially thereof, the retaining hoop H is provided with a transverse hollow rib l5 having a cylindrical bore l6 parallel with the axis of shell 5 and in which is journaled the shaft ll having a pinion l8 rigid with the outer end thereof and disposed and suitablyretained within a counterbore IS in the 3 outer end of the rib l5. Pinion |8 meshes with the teeth l4 of tensioning ring l4, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5.

An annular space a is provided between the retaining hoop II and the reduced end portion 1 of shell 5, and disposed in this space inwardly of the tensioning ring I3 is a flesh hoop 20 consisting of an annular channel of V-shaped cross section having inturned flanges 2|a along the free edges thereof. The usual skin disc 2|, or circular sheet of skin, is stretched over the end of shell 5 and has its marginal portion wrapped about the flesh hoop 20 with its free marginal portion tucked into the channel 20' of hoop 20 through the open outer side of the latter, Disposed between the tensioning ring l3 and the hoop 20 is a thin thrust ring 22 having a central inward annular corrugation 23 projecting toward the opening 29a in the outer side of the flesh hoop 20. Bearing balls 24 are mounted in sockets 24' provided at suitable intervals in the innerv surface of tensioning ring l3, and these balls.

project and engage in the groove 23 of thrust ring 22. Balls 24 may be rotatably held in place by peening the material of the ring I3 inwardly as at 24a so as to envelope slightly more than one-half of said bearing balls. This construction permits free rotation of tensioning ring l3 relative to thrust ring 22, allowing the latter to remain still or to be held stationary by its frictional contact with the adjacent portion of the skin 2|. Obviously, by rotating pinion l8, tensioning ring I3 may be turned and threaded inwardly, thereby causing thrust ring 22 to force the adjacent portion of skin 2| into the opening at the outer side of hoop 20, thereby securely securing the marginal portion of the skin to the flesh hoop and forcing the latter inwardly to tension the skin 2| over the outer end of the end portion 1 of the shell, as desired. Due to the relatively great thickness of the pinion l8 and the teeth of tensioning ring l3, they will remain in mesh even though the ring I3 is adjusted axially of the shell relative to pinion Hi to place the skin 2| under tension. As shown clearly in Figure 1, the shaft l1 and pinion |8 have an axial bore 25 of polygonal cross section so that a, suitable tool with a squared end may be engaged in this bore for turning the pinion I8. A preferred form of tool for this purpose is shown in Figure 11, wherein a square shank 26 projects from the intermediate portion of a handle member 21 at right angles to the latter, and similar shorter shanks 28 project from opposite ends of said handle member 21. The shanks 26 and 28 are all of the same size and shape so as to fit the bore 25. Thus, any one of the shanks may be engaged in the bore 25 for turning pinion Hi, thereby enabling actuation of the latter from different angles. As the thrust ring 22 may remain stationary and as it bears upon the skin 2 I, there is no tendency to cause the skin to rotate with the tensioning ring l3. In this way, the skin is drawn evenly at all points so as to be tensioned in a very smooth condition, By threading the retaining hoop H on the shell, it may be adjusted longitudinally of the latter so that the flange I2 is positioned in proximity to the skin 2| so that most efiicient tensioning of the skin may be effected by relatively slight turning of the tensioning ring l3.

It will thus be seen that I haveprovided a durable and compact drum head construction in which simple and efficient means is provided for tensioning the skin of the drum head, and in 4 which such tensioning means is operable by the application of power at a single point.

Snares 29 are disposed diametrically of and at the outer side of the skin 2| of one of the drum heads, said snares being attached to a carrier 30 that embodies means for tensioning the snares 29 and that is yieldingly urged by means of springs 3| toward the skin 2| to normally position the snares 29 in operative relation to said skin 2|. As shown, the carrier 30 includes a suitable frame composed of spaced parallel channels 32 rigidly connected at their ends by cross members 33 and 34. A transverse tensioning bar 35 is disposed adjacent and outwardly of the cross bar 33 and is provided with spaced guide pins 36 slidably fitting into guides 31 secured in the adjacent ends of the channel frame members 32.

'The snares 29 are attached in any well known manner at corresponding ends to a transverse attaching bar 38 secured to the cross bar 34, and

the other ends of said snares are similarly attached to an attaching bar 39 secured to the tenone cross bar 46 to the other is a shaft 5|.

sioning bar 35. The bars 34 and 35 are preferably in the form of angles havin upstanding outor flanges provided with apertures 35' which receive tongues 40 struck from the attaching bars 39 and 39 and clinched behind the vertical flanges 35a of the bars 34 and 35 so as to secure the adjacent bars together. If metallic snares are used, they may be soldered to bars 39 and 39 as at 40', while any preferred means of attachment may be provided for the snares if other than metallic snares are employed. Fixed to the under side of the tensioning bar 35 by welding or the like is a nut 4| through which is adjustably threaded an adjusting screw 42 that has a pointed inner end 43 bearing in a recess 43a or small opening of the cross bar 33. The screw 42 projects outwardly beyond the adjacent side of the retaining hoop and has a knob 44 on its outer end to facilitate turning of the same. By adjusting screw 42 inwardly, the tensioning bar 35 may be forced away from the adjacent end of frame 30 so as to place the snares 29 under tension. Opposite turning of screw 42 will reduce the tensioning of snares 29 in an obvious manner.

Rigid with diametrically opposite portions of the retaining hoop H at the outer end of the latter are supporting elements including pairs of spaced parallel arms 45 that project inwardly in spaced parallel relation to the skin 2| outwardly of the latter. These arms 45 terminate adjacent but inwardly of th ends of the frame 30 and have their inner ends rigidly connected by cross bars 46. The springs 3| bear at corresponding ends upon the inner ends of the arms 45 and at their other ends against the ends of angular brackets 47 welded or otherwise rigidly attached at 41' to the outer sides of the channel frame members 32. The ends of springs 3| may be suitably attached to arms 45 and brackets 41, such as by soldering, welding or the like. Attached at their ends to the frame members 32 adjacent but inwardly of the inner ends of the pairs of arms 45 are substantially V-shaped yokes 48 having flat intermediate portions 49 and a right angular portion 59 at one side of each intermediate portion 49. Journaled in bars 46 of the supporting elements intermediate the arms 45 parallel with the latter and extending from The shaft 5| has a pair of laterally projecting cam lugs 52, each of which is coincident with the flat intermediate portion 49 of a difierent one of the yokes 49, the shaft 5| being disposed in con- 5. tact iwlth the flat portions!!! and th right; angular portions 5.0. of. said Yokes 48. The at.- mngement is such. that when the shaft is tu ned so as to dispose the lugs 52 parallel. wi h the. kin 2|, the sprin s 3|, are permittedito urge th snare carrier toward the skin 2| of the drum headso as to operatively position the snares 29 in relation to said skin. On the other hand, when the shaft 5| is rotated in. a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, the cam lugs 52 will be caused to engage the flat portions 49 and press the yokes 48 outwardly, thereby withdrawing the snare carrier from the skin 2| and rendering the snares 29 inoperative. When the latter takes place, the flat outer ends 52 of the lugs 52 will engage the flat portions 49 of the yokes 48 at a point slightly past the axial center of the shaft 5| so that the snar carrier will be retained in inoperative position. On the other hand, when the shaft 5| is turned in the opposite direction for a very slight distance so that the lugs 52 pass to the opposite side of the axial center of shaft 5|, the springs 3| will act to instantaneously rotate the shaft 5| for the remaining distance in this direction and the springs 3| will act to instantaneously force the snare carrier toward the skin of the drum head so as to render the snares operative. Obviously, when the snare carrier as is allowed to move inwardly to operative position, the lugs 52 are disposed parallel with the skin 2|, as shown in the drawings. On the other hand, the lugs 52 point away from the skin 2| when they are moved to the position wherein they shift the snare carrier away from the skin 2| of the drum head.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4, one end 5| of the shaft 5| projects outwardly beyond the adjacent side of the retaining hoop II where it is equipped with a crank arm 53 connected at its outer end to the outer end of a push rod 55 by a pin and slot connection 54, said push rod being slidably mounted in a guide 56 carried by the retaining hoop II. The rod 55 is mounted to slide longitudinally of the drum shell 5 and is formed at its inner end with a thumb piece 51. By pressing outwardly on th thumb piece 51, the shaft 5| is caused to rotate in a direction to move the snare carrier to inoperative position. Return of the snare carrier to operative position may be effected by simply pulling inwardly on the thumb piece 51, as will be apparent. It will be particularly noted that the snares are moved away from the skin of the drum head without relieving the tension of said snares. Thus, the snares may be tensioned as desired and this tension will be maintained at all times until manually changed, regardless of whether the snares are operative or inoperative with respect to the skin of the drum head.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Obviously, the invention is susceptible of various changes in details of construction illustrated and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a snare drum, the combination with a shell having a skin stretched over an end thereof and provided with a retaining hoop, of diametrically opposed angular supporting elements rigid with and projecting outwardly from the retaining hoop and then toward each other, a rock shaft extending between and journaled in said supporting elements and'disposedi outwardy o and in sp ced p rallel relation: to the skin, said rock. shaft being provided with cam lugs, a floating snare carrier disposed parallel with and between the, skin, and. said rock. shaft, springs interposed between said supporting elements and the snare carrier and urging the latter toward and into operative relation. to. the skin, yokes fixed to the snare carrier and passing across the shaft outs wardly of the latter, said yokes being engageable by the ca m lugs to move the snare carrier away from, the skin to an inoperative position andto retain the snare carrier in said, inoperative position upon turning said rock shaft in one direction, said cam lugs further being releasable from the yokes to permit movement of the snare carrier toward and into operative relation to the skin by said springs upon turning said rock shaft in the opposite direction, and manually operable means carried by the retaining hoop and connected to one end of said rock shaft for turning the latter.

2. In a snare drum, the combination with a shell having a skin stretched over an end thereof and provided with a retaining hoop, of a snare carrier disposed at the outer side of and parallel with the skin, diametrically opposed supporting elements rigid with the retaining hoop and projecting toward each other outwardly of the snare carrier, springs interposed between said supporting elements and the snare carrier and uniformly urging the latter inwardly toward and into operative relation to the skin, a manually operable rock shaft disposed diametrically of the skin, said rock shaft extending between and being journaled in said supporting elements, and means operatively connecting said rock shaft to the snare carrier, said means being also releasable from the snare carrier to permit movement of said snare carrier relative to said rock shaft in response to vibrations of the skin and being operable upon turning said rock shaft to move the snare carrier outwardly from the skin to an inoperative position and to retain the snare carrier in said inoperative position.

3. In a. snare drum, the combination with a shell having a skin stretched over an end thereof and provided with a retaining hoop, of a snare carrier disposed at the outer side of and parallel with the skin, diametrically opposed supporting elements rigid withv the retaining hoop and projecting toward each other outwardly of the snare carrier, springs interposed between said supporting elements and the snare carrier and uniformly urging the latter inwardly toward and into operative relation to the skin, and manually operable means carried by said supporting elements to move said snare carrier outwardly from the skin to an inoperative position and to retain the snare carrier in said inoperative position, said means being also releasable from the snare carrier to permit movement of said snare carrier in response to vibrations of the skin,

4. In a snare drum, the combination with a shell having a skin stretched over an end thereof and provided with a retaining hoop, of a snare carrier disposed at the outer side of and parallel with the skin, supporting means rigidly connected with the hoop and disposed outwardly of the snare carrier, springs interposed between said supporting means and the snare carrier and uniformly urging the latter inwardly toward and into operative relation to the skin, and manually operable means carried by said supporting means to move said snare carrier outwardly from the skin 7 to an inoperative position, Said. means being also releasable from the snare carrier to permit movement of said snare carrier in response to vibrations of the skin.

CHARLES P. CORDES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date OConner Nov. 7, 1916 Number Number Number 

